The Arizona sentinel., 1887-01-29
THE TOMATO.

A Profitable Crop Whose Cultivation Re-
 quires Comparatively Little Work.
 The tomato has a curious history. Native of South America, like the pota- to, it is said to have been introduced into England as early as 1505. Many years elapsed before it was used as food, and the botanical name given to it was significant of the estimation in which it was held by our forefathers. It was called LycoperSican-a compound meaning wolf and peach, indicating that, notwithstanding its beauty, itwas regarded as a sort of Dead sea fruit. The Italians first dared to use it freely, the French followed, and after eying it askance as a novelty for unknown years, John Bull ventured to taste, and having survived, began to eat with in- creasing gusto. To our grandmothers in this land the ruby fruit was given as ''love-apples," and adorning quaint old bureaus, were devoured by dreamy eyes long before canning factories were within the ken of even Yankees vision. Now, tomatoes vie with the potato as a general article of food, and ohe can scarcely visit a quarter of the globe s, remote but he will find that the tomato cair has been there before him. Its culture $ so easy that one year had bushels of frtnt from plants that grew here and there by chance Skill is required only in producing Sn early crop, and to secure this end the earlier the plants are started in the spring the better. Those who have glass will experience no difficulty what ever. The seed may be sown in a greenhouse as early as January, and the plants potted when three inches high, transferred to larger pots from time to time as they grow, and by the middle of May put into the open ground, full of blos- soms and immature fruit. h. deed, plants started early in the fall will give in greenhouse good sup ply all winter. They also grow readily in hot-beds, cold frames; and sunny windows. We usually can buy we'll forwarded plants from those who raise them for sale. If these are set out early in May on a sunny slope, they mature rapidly, and give an early yield. The tomato is very sensitive to frost, and should not be in the open ground before danger from it is over. Through out May we may find plants for sale everywhere. If we desire to try dis tinct kinds with the least trouble, we can SOW the seed about May 1, and in our climate enjoy an abundant yield in September or before. In the cool, hu- mid climate of England the tomato is usually grown CD espdlier, like the peach, along sunny walls and fences, receiving as careful a sum- mer pruning as the grape. vine. With us they are usually left to sprawl over the ground at will. By training the vines over various kinds of supports, however, they can be made as ornamental as they are useful. The ground on which they grow should be only moderately fertile, or else there is too great growth of vine at the eX- pense of fruit. This is especially true if we wish an early yield, and in this case the warmest, driest soil is neces- sary.
 But comparatively a few years ago the tomato consisted of little hollow rind with a few seeds in the hollow center. Now the only varieties worth raising cut as solid as a mellow pear. The following is Gregory's list of va rieties: Livingston's Beauty, Alpha, Acme, Canada Victor, Arlington, Gen eral Grant. I will add Trophy and Mikado. If yellow variety is desired, try Golden Trophy.-E. P. Roe, is Hare pe''S Magazine.